Our Experience at the ACMP Midwest Chapter’s 2026 Midwest Change Conference
On April 20, 2026, Ben Kleinman and Rich Cruz of Harmonious Workplaces and the Harmonious Workplaces Podcast had the opportunity to present at the Association for Change Management Professionals (ACMP) Midwest Chapter’s 2026 Midwest Change Conference at Summit Chicago in downtown Chicago.
The theme of the conference was “Co-Creating the Future of Change.” The phrase “co-creating change” appears often in our field, but it can feel abstract until you see it happening in a room. We wanted our session, The Arts in Adaptive Organizations, to feel like that. Something people could experience rather than just hear about.
Photos
Here are some photos from our session…
Starting With Participation
Our session kicked off at 10:15 a.m. with about two dozen change management professionals in the room. We started with a facilitated drumming exercise using frame drums and shakers.
Within a few minutes, the room changed. People paid attention to each other, listening, adjusting, and trying things out. Some rhythms landed cleanly. Others didn’t. That, in part, illustrated the point… the group built something together in real time.
That short exercise set the tone for the rest of the session. When people become involved early, the energy morphs into something different. You don’t have to convince them to engage; they do so naturally of their own accord.
Setting the Scene With Hermie
From there, we shared the learning objectives through a short video featuring Hermie the HR Hermit Crab.
It gave us a simple way to outline where we were going, and it added a little personality to the session. We’ve found that when people can connect to an idea through a story or a character, they’re more likely to remember it later.
In change work, recall matters. If the idea doesn’t stick, it’s not going to show up in behavior.
Working Through SIP
We then introduced SIP, which stands for Sequences, Iterations, and Permutations, drawing from the work of Jasper Goodrich.
We kept the discussion grounded in how teams actually work.
- Sequences help teams understand the flow of work. What needs to happen first, what follows, and how pieces connect.
- Iterations give teams a way to test and adjust. Instead of waiting for a finished solution, they move forward, learn, and refine.
- Permutations open up new possibilities. As teams work through iterations, different combinations start to emerge. Some of those combinations lead to better outcomes than what was originally planned.
The group connected with this because it reflects what many organizations are dealing with right now. Plans change, priorities shift, and teams need a way to keep moving without losing alignment.
Directing Instead of Dictating
In the final part of the session, Ben and I read a few Hermie and Boss Betta cartoons to highlight a pattern we see often in organizations. Many leaders rely on telling people exactly what to do, step by step. That can work in some situations, but it becomes difficult when the work is complex or changing quickly.
We showcased a different approach by borrowing from the theater.
A director doesn’t perform every role. They set the direction, shape the scene, and guide the performance. The actors still bring the work to life.
In an organization, that means giving people clarity on what matters and where things are headed, while allowing them to engage with the work, make adjustments, and contribute their unique expertise.
The cartoons helped make that visible. People could recognize those moments from their own workplaces.
What Co-Creation Looks Like Day to Day
The theme of co-creating change carried through the rest of the conference as well. In breakout sessions and conversations with other practitioners, a few ideas came up repeatedly.
- Getting people involved early makes a difference. Waiting until everything is finalized limits how much ownership people feel.
- Structure helps, especially when work is moving quickly. At the same time, teams need room to adjust as they go.
- Leaders set the tone. When they create space for input and participation, teams respond.
- Shared experiences matter. Whether it’s through a workshop, a pilot, or a working session, people need a chance to engage with the change directly.
Inclusivity, leading with data, and even leveraging AI to facilitate co-creation became common threads in the dialogue among presenters and conference-goers.
A Strong Day of Conversations
Outside of our session, we spent time in other breakout sessions, visited exhibitors, and connected with other change professionals throughout the day. You can find value in those interactions, hearing how different organizations are approaching similar challenges. You get a sense of where people are experimenting and where they’re running into friction. Some of the best insights come from those informal discussions over coffee, lunch, or at the end of the day.
Final Thought
Co-creating change shows up in the way work gets done. You can see it in how a team runs an iteration. You can see it in how leaders engage their teams. You can see it in whether people feel included in the process or removed from it. The organizations that build this into their everyday work tend to adapt more effectively over time.
We appreciated the chance to be part of that conversation at the conference, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us for the session.
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